Last Modified: Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 11:44 p.m.

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The celebration at Bryant-Denny Stadium was subdued somewhat with the news that wide receiver Kenny Bell had broken his leg.

Alabama coach Nick Saban said following the game that Bell will have to have a rod inserted in his leg and be out “at least five or six weeks” before he can start running again.

Bell was taken to the locker room early in the second quarter. After a long T.J. Yeldon run that set up the Crimson Tide inside the Auburn 10-yard line, Bell began hobbling back to the sideline before collapsing to the turf. After writhing in pain as trainers attended to him, he was helped off the field and put no weight on his left leg.

He came out of the locker room in the second half on crutches with his leg immobilized.

“He's a playmaker for us,” Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron said of Bell. “But we're going to have some younger guys step up and make plays.”

Kevin Norwood, who had two touchdown receptions in Saturday's win, said seeing Bell go down was painful.

“Kenny Bell has worked hard all season and off-season” he said. “It hurts us to see him go down. We know that he wants it. It's a shame.

Bell is one of the Tide's deep threats and is second on the team with 431 yards and three touchdowns on the season. He caught one pass for 15 yards during Saturday's game before getting hurt.

Stellar Seniors

Alabama's senior class in 2012 has been nothing short of stellar.

Since arriving at campus, the Crimson Tide is 47-5, have won two national championships and, with a win in next week's Southeastern Conference championship game against No. 3 Georgia, could play for a third.

The 47 wins are a school record by one class and also is more than any other team in a BCS conference.

The significance of that, along with beating Auburn the final time they step on the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium, was not lost on Saban.

“I feel great about the seniors being able to close out their career here with a pretty memorable victory for them,” Saban said. “This is a great rivalry game, and for our players to be able to win this game is always a big thing for our fans, our players and all of our supporters, and I was really pleased with the way we played in the game.”

Linebacker Nico Johnson was one of the seniors who relished Saturday's win.

Notes

• Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron moved into sole possession of second place on the career touchdown passing list. His 44 touchdowns through the air is just four behind the school's all-time leader John Parker Wilson.

• Auburn lost eight SEC games for the first time in program history.

• Auburn allowed a touchdown on its first defensive series for the fifth straight SEC game.

<p>TUSCALOOSA — It almost was a perfect night for No. 2 Alabama as the Crimson Tide defeated rival Auburn 49-0 in the Iron Bowl on Saturday.</p><p>The key word? Almost.</p><p>The celebration at Bryant-Denny Stadium was subdued somewhat with the news that wide receiver Kenny Bell had broken his leg.</p><p>Alabama coach Nick Saban said following the game that Bell will have to have a rod inserted in his leg and be out “at least five or six weeks” before he can start running again.</p><p>Bell was taken to the locker room early in the second quarter. After a long T.J. Yeldon run that set up the Crimson Tide inside the Auburn 10-yard line, Bell began hobbling back to the sideline before collapsing to the turf. After writhing in pain as trainers attended to him, he was helped off the field and put no weight on his left leg.</p><p>He came out of the locker room in the second half on crutches with his leg immobilized.</p><p>“He's a playmaker for us,” Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron said of Bell. “But we're going to have some younger guys step up and make plays.”</p><p>Kevin Norwood, who had two touchdown receptions in Saturday's win, said seeing Bell go down was painful.</p><p>“Kenny Bell has worked hard all season and off-season” he said. “It hurts us to see him go down. We know that he wants it. It's a shame. </p><p>Bell is one of the Tide's deep threats and is second on the team with 431 yards and three touchdowns on the season. He caught one pass for 15 yards during Saturday's game before getting hurt.</p><h3>Stellar Seniors</h3>
<p>Alabama's senior class in 2012 has been nothing short of stellar.</p><p>Since arriving at campus, the Crimson Tide is 47-5, have won two national championships and, with a win in next week's Southeastern Conference championship game against No. 3 Georgia, could play for a third.</p><p>The 47 wins are a school record by one class and also is more than any other team in a BCS conference.</p><p>The significance of that, along with beating Auburn the final time they step on the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium, was not lost on Saban.</p><p>“I feel great about the seniors being able to close out their career here with a pretty memorable victory for them,” Saban said. “This is a great rivalry game, and for our players to be able to win this game is always a big thing for our fans, our players and all of our supporters, and I was really pleased with the way we played in the game.”</p><p>Linebacker Nico Johnson was one of the seniors who relished Saturday's win.</p><p>“I didn't think my senior day would come this fast,” he said. “It's real exciting. </p><p>“I just hate the fact that it's my last game at Bryant-Denny.”</p><p>Looking back at his career at Alabama, the Andalusia High School product still is amazed at what his class has been able to accomplish.</p><p>“I just wanted to be successful,” he said. “Honestly, I really didn't think I would play for two national championships in the time that I've been here, but I've been blessed.”</p><h3>Twitter Honor Roll</h3>
<p>The Iron Bowl was a big topic Saturday on Twitter. Here's a look at some of the best tweets during the game:</p><p>• “The state of Alabama might lead the nation in one category: Best place to watch a big college football game.” — AP Sports Writer John Zenor (@jzenor)</p><p>• “This one is gonna get ugly.” — WBRC Sports Director Rick Karle (@RickKarle)</p><p>• “Western Carolina put up more (of) a fight than #Auburn is now.” — Decatur Daily Sports Editor Mark Edwards (@DailyEdwards)</p><p>• “If the current paths continued for couple more years, Auburn would be annexed and turned into Alabama's JV team.” — AP Sports Writer Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP)</p><p>• “Saban can name the score at this point, but may need to use logarithms.” — Tuscaloosa News Sports Editor Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt)</p><p>• “Only way Iron Bowl could be more embarrassing is if there's a running clock in the 2nd half.” — Alabama Media Group Reporter Jon </p><p>Solomon (@jonsol)</p><p>• “If you want to see what it looks like when a team quits, tune in to the Alabama-Auburn massacre. Parental guidance suggested.” — @ESPN_SEC</p><p>• “Things I never thought I'd hear… 'That's the end of the third quarter, Alabama 49, Auburn 0.'” — Tuscaloosa News Sports Writer Aaron Suttles (@AaronSuttles)</p><p>• “Gene Chizik won't talk about future. Right now, his biggest concern is probably getting a ride back to Auburn” — Paul Finebaum (@finebaum)</p><h3>How'd We Do?</h3>
<p>Earlier in the week, sports writers and editors across the state weighed in how they thought Saturday's Iron Bowl would go.</p><p>Of the 23 who participated, 22 picked Alabama to win by an average score of 40.6-8.7. The only writer to predict a shutout was Alabama Media Group's Jon Solomon, who picked Alabama to win 41-0.</p><p>As for The Gadsden Times' staff predictions, sports editor Kim Craft picked Alabama 42-7, sports writer Nick Johnston picked Alabama 34-7, and sport writer J.J. Hicks picked Alabama 45-6.</p><h3>Notes</h3>
<p>• Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron moved into sole possession of second place on the career touchdown passing list. His 44 touchdowns through the air is just four behind the school's all-time leader John Parker Wilson.</p><p>• Auburn lost eight SEC games for the first time in program history.</p><p>• Auburn allowed a touchdown on its first defensive series for the fifth straight SEC game.</p>